Jawbox

Jawbox is an American alternative rock band from Washington, D.C., United States. Its original members were J. Robbins (vocals, guitar), Kim Coletta (bass guitar) and Adam Wade (drums). Bill Barbot (vocals, guitar) later came on board and Zach Barocas (drums) joined the group replacing Wade.

Jawbox
Background information
OriginWashington, D.C., United States
GenresAlternative rock, post-hardcore, noise rock
Years active1989–1997, 2009, 2019–present
LabelsDischord, Atlantic, TAG, Desoto
Associated actsGovernment Issue, Shudder to Think, Burning Airlines, Channels, Office of Future Plans
Websitedesotorecords.com
MembersJ. Robbins
Bill Barbot
Kim Coletta
Zach Barocas
Past membersAdam Wade

History

Robbins had played in the final incarnation of Government Issue, which was the longest lived of the original Washington, D.C. punk bands. After Government Issue called it quits, Robbins formed Jawbox with Kim Coletta and Adam Wade. The trio recorded a demo cassette and their first, self-released single (this was also the beginning of their use of the Desoto Records rubric, which went on to become a formal, successful independent record label); inclusion of the song "Bullet Park" on the Maximumrocknroll compilation They Don't Get Paid, They Don't Get Laid, But Boy Do They Work Hard (1989) was their most widespread early exposure. They also recorded a four-song EP, Jawbox (1990), which was incorporated into the CD release of their first album, Grippe (both released by Dischord Records). Shortly afterwards, Bill Barbot joined the band as second guitarist and second singer. Not long after, they recorded Novelty with Iain Burgess, and toured the USA.

Wade then left the band to play drums with Shudder to Think, and their friend Zach Barocas was called upon to play the drums. Barocas' adoption of various stage-names caused some confusion at the time; he used the monikers Jim Schortz, El Jefe and even borrowed the name of the Japanese actor Takashi Shimura. Barocas' unique drumming style is central to what became recognized as the band's signature studio and live sound following their major label debut.[1]

Jawbox gained some notoriety in the indie music community by becoming one of only two bands to move from legendary record label Dischord Records to a major label, when they signed to Atlantic Records for 1994's For Your Own Special Sweetheart (the other band was Shudder to Think, which signed to Epic Records). The band had a minor MTV hit with "Savory" in 1994. A second single, "Cooling Card", was issued and received some MTV and radio play, but it wasn't as popular as "Savory".

In 1995 Jawbox released a split-live-album with Leatherface on Your Choice Records, produced by Tobby Holzinger with cover-artwork designed by Chris Scheuer.

The band recorded a second album for Atlantic, produced by John Agnello, but during the sessions, Atlantic started a vanity label for alternative artists, TAG Recordings, which had the band Fountains of Wayne signed to it, and they transferred Jawbox to the new label. In 1996, they released the album, which was surprisingly successful and had a college radio hit with "Mirrorful" and a cover of Tori Amos' "Cornflake Girl", but Jawbox was eventually dropped by the label due to a perceived lack of singles on the album.

In early 1997, at the completion of the tour supporting the self-titled record, Barocas decided to move back to New York, and Jawbox called it a day. After the split, Robbins and Barbot, along with former Government Issue drummer, Pete Moffett, formed the band Burning Airlines, which itself broke up after releasing two albums. Barbot and Coletta continue to run DeSoto Records. Barbot is owner[2] of Threespot,[3] a web agency in Washington, DC. Coletta is also currently a substitute teacher at Landon School in Bethesda, MD. Barocas became a part of The Up on In which, like Burning Airlines, broke up quickly thereafter. Barocas currently lives in Brooklyn and plays in the band Bells≥.[4] Barocas also writes poetry and publishes the online literary journal The Cultural Society. Robbins is currently part of the bands Channels, Office of Future Plans, and Report Suspicious Activity with Articles of Faith frontman Vic Bondi and has continued to be a successful producer.

On October 7, 2009 it was announced that Jawbox would reform for a one-night-only performance of "Savory" on the December 8, 2009 episode of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.[5] This was their first show since early 1997 and was done to mark the reissue of their 1994 album For Your Own Special Sweetheart. In addition to taping "Savory" for their Jimmy Fallon appearance as planned, Jawbox also performed "68" and "FF=66" during their rehearsal. Footage of the extra songs was then released online.[6] J. Robbins had also put to rest rumors of a full-fledged reunion, saying that the band will not play any concerts outside of the Late Night appearance.[7]

In January 2019, the band announced their official reunion with a 12 date summer tour. This was followed up by various other tours and shows.[8][9]

Desoto Records

In December 2006, Desoto Records bought the rights of Jawbox's Atlantic Records albums and put them on iTunes and eMusic, along with the Dischord albums and EPs. They also released the albums in stores under the Desoto print and put the videos for all of the major label albums on their site, including their rendition of a Tori Amos song, Cornflake Girl, originally released as a hidden track on 1996's Jawbox.

Discography
Studio Albums
Singles & EPs
(split w/ Leatherface)
Compilations
Appearances

Videography
  • Cut Off (1992)
  • Savory (1994)
  • Cooling Card (1994)
  • Mirrorful (1996)
  • Cornflake Girl (1996)

References
  1. Archived August 25, 2012, at Archive.today
  2. "Bill Barbot". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2015-07-08.
  3. "Threespot". Threespot.com. Retrieved 2015-07-08.
  4. "Interview – Jawbox, façon buzz l'éclair". Mowno. 2010-03-03. Retrieved 2015-07-08.
  5. Archived October 12, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  6. Archived July 23, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  7. Archived October 28, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  8. "Jawbox Talk First Tour in More Than 20 Years: 'This Year Made Sense'". 2019-01-14.
  9. "Jawbox Announce Reunion Tour".
  10. "Xbox Official Site: Consoles, Games, and Community | Xbox". Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
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